Rake-tooth



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. PEABODY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAKE-TOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 573,481, dated December 22, 1896.

Application filed January 11, 1896. Serial No. 575,112. (No model.)

To ceZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES E. PEABODY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State, of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rake-Teeth; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rakes, and particularly that class termed hay or lawn rakes.

My invention relates to the teeth, which are made of metal and constructed in a peculiar manner, whereby they are not only set fast in the head of the rake and prevented from turning or moving therein, but are very easily taken out when worn orin j u red in such manner that they must be replaced with new ones.

The drawings represent in Figure 1 a ver tical longitudinal section in part of a rakehead equipped with rake-teeth embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section in part. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a tooth before insertion in the rakehead.

In said drawingsfl represents a rake-head in part composed of wood and furnished with a plurality of teeth 3, arranged in a single row and projecting from the under side of the same. In a tool of this kind a long or wide head is desirable, and consequentlylightness is a requisite. In order to enable the crosssections of the head to be made smaller, and thus have a less quantity of material and at the same time to cheapen the manufacture and toincrease the life of the rake, I propose to equip the same with metallic teeth. These teeth are made of wire, preferably steel, and of any size to conform to the purposes to which the rake is to be put. These teeth, moreover, are to be cut from a straight piece of the desired length to form the body 4: of the tooth, and one end is upset to form a head 5. The tooth is of uniform diameter throughout, while the upper portion for a distance equal to the depth of the head is furnished with peripheral spurs or holding devices 6. These are to project outwardly and also backwardly in the direction of the head after the manner of the barb of a hook. Hence in inserting the tooth the wood composing the head can readily pass over the spurs or points and then springing back into place firmly embed the spurs in the wood. These points thus serve not only to prevent the tooth from disengaging from the head, but hold it from turning. This is of great importance, as will be further explained.

From the above description of parts it will be understood that the construction of the holding-points 0 prevents removal of the teeth without tearing away the wood which forms the wallsof the holes, and thereby removal of a tooth would so enlarge the hole that a new tooth could not be held firmly-in place. To overcome this difficulty and thus permit ready removal of the teeth I have split the tooth longitudinally at 7. The walls of this slot may be parallel or they may diverge as they approach the head of the tooth. The teeth are inserted in place with the slot in the head arranged transversely of the head taken lengthwise.

In the equipment of the rake-head with teeth these latter, as before premised, being straight pieces of metal, are entered point down on the upper side of the head, which is bored in such manner to allow the head to be countersunk, and when the toothis in place the said heads are flush with the top of the head. After the tooth is in position a wedge is entered in the seat of the tooth and forced in until the opposite sides of the head are spread apart, when the operation is completed. As before premised, the slots in the teeth are transversely of the rake-head. Hence when the tooth is spread apart or opened at the top it is moved in the direction of the length of the fibers of the wood and not across them. Hence there is no liability of cracking the rake-head. After all the teeth are set in position the entire group of teeth is subjected to the action of a former and the requisite curvature at their lower extremities imparted to them. In this way the teeth are properly alined, and because of the points or holding devices 6 no axial movement of the teeth can occur.

hen it is desired to remove a tooth, the

IOC

tWo portions comprising the head are drawn together. This disengages the points from the sides of the hole in which they were previously embedded, and the tooth can be easily and readily Withdrawn. By my construction a rake can be furnished With teeth at a minimum cost. They can easily be removed and as easily reset, and they will always remain smooth and polished and in this manner more easily discharge the stuff which collects upon them.

What I claim is- A rake-tooth comprising a straight body portion, a curved lower extremity, a split, headed upper portion and peripheral projections adapted to be embedded in the material composing the head of the rake, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. PEABODY. l/Vitnesses H. E. LODGE, FRANCIS C. STANWooD. 

